Festivals of GOA

COM P UTER PROJECT

Rasa Krushna Behera; Roll no.: 25

Content

❑ Festivals of GOA

❑ Goa Carnival

❑ Sao Joao Festival

❑ St Francis Xavier Feast

❑ Bonderam

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Main Traditional Goa Festivals

1. Goa Carnival

This is the most famous festival and is being

celebrated since the 18th century. It was

started by the Portuguese who ruled the

state for more than 5 centuries. The

celebration is an expression of the 40-day

period of fasting of Lent, during which

abstinence from meat is a rule until Easter.

The carnival has colorful parades and

enactment of mythologies. It's vibrant colors

in the costumes, dances, and flags make it

the most happening fest of Goa.

2. Sao Joao Festival

▪ The Feast of St. John, the Baptist is

celebrated on 24th June every year

as thanksgiving for the arrival of

monsoons. The most obvious

indication of monsoons is the filling

up of water bodies which is why

young people celebrate it by jumping

into lakes, streams, and wells. It is

further celebrated by organizing of

boat races and having Feni.

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3. St Francis Xavier Feast

▪ Celebrated in the month of

December, this feast is celebrated

every year in Old Goa at the Basilica

of Bom Jesus. Preceding the feast of

9 days of Novenas are held and

attended by pilgrims from all over the

world. There is a fair too where

vendors sell sweetmeats, toys, and

clothing. The body of St Francis

Xavier lies in a silver casket in the

Church of Bom Jesus in Goa. St

Xavier was a great Catholic

missionary, who preached the

Gospel of Jesus Christ to the people

of Asia. It's definitely one of the most

famous festivals of Goa that you

can't miss out on if you're visiting

Goa in December

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4. Bonderam

▪ During the Portuguese colonization

period, there were intense disputes

about sharing of land between two

sides of the Divar village. This quite

frequently led to conflicts, violence

and chaos. As a solution, the

government at that time

(Portuguese) marked the boundaries

with flags. Hence the festival

involves the presentation of mock

battles and colorfully painted boats.

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Thank You!

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